# Alternatives to DiskCryptor DiskCryptor is an open-source Windows encryption tool that can encrypt entire disks, partitions, external drives and file-based containers using AES, Twofish and Serpent. Its 2.0 release added Argon2id key derivation, a UEFI/GPT bootloader and optional TPM-backed unattended unlock, positioning it as a lighter-weight, Windows-focused open-source alternative to VeraCrypt for full-volume encryption. DiskCryptor ranks #11 of 11 in File encryption tools, with an Alt Score of 40. It is licensed under GPL-3.0, free from Free and available on Windows. 8 of 9 checklist rows are verified against a public source. Source: https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/diskcryptor/ Category: File encryption tools ## Overview - **Who it's for**: Windows users who want full disk, partition, or external-storage encryption without relying on proprietary tools like BitLocker, including system-partition encryption with pre-boot authentication. - **What you get**: Transparent AES, Twofish, and Serpent encryption (or combinations) of disk partitions and dynamic disks, UEFI/GPT and MBR boot support, key-file authentication, hardware AES acceleration, SSD TRIM support, and an optional command-line interface, all under a GPLv3 open-source license. - **How it works**: A Windows kernel-mode driver intercepts I/O to transparently encrypt and decrypt partitions on the fly, requiring administrator rights to install and a reboot; system-partition encryption adds a UEFI or MBR bootloader that authenticates (password or key file) before Windows boots. ## Profile - **License**: GPL-3.0 (verified 2026-07-30) - **Pricing model**: Free (verified 2026-07-30) - **Starts at**: Free (verified 2026-07-30) - **Platforms**: Windows - **Status**: active (verified 2026-07-30) ## Ranked alternatives | # | App | Alt Score | Licence | Platforms | |---|-----|-----------|---------|-----------| | 1 | [VeraCrypt](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/veracrypt.md) | 75 | Apache-2.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux | | 2 | [AxCrypt](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/axcrypt.md) | 70 | ? | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS | | 3 | [BestCrypt Container Encryption](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/bestcrypt-container-encryption.md) | 70 | Proprietary | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | | 4 | [AES Crypt](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/aes-crypt.md) | 65 | Proprietary | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | | 5 | [age](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/age.md) | 65 | BSD-3-Clause | Windows, macOS, Linux | | 6 | [Cryptomator](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/cryptomator.md) | 65 | GPL-3.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS | | 7 | [Kryptor](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/kryptor.md) | 65 | GPL-3.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux | | 8 | [Gpg4win](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/gpg4win.md) | 55 | GPL | Windows | | 9 | [NordLocker](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/nordlocker.md) | 50 | Proprietary | Windows, Android, iOS, Web | | 10 | [Tomb](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/tomb.md) | 50 | GPL-3.0 | Linux, Windows | Alt Score = Verified coverage (90%) + Visibility (10%). See https://altcatalog.com/how-alt-score-works/ ## Feature comparison Legend: Yes / No / Partial / ? (not verified). | File encryption tools checklist | DiskCryptor | VeraCrypt | AxCrypt | BestCrypt Container Encryption | AES Crypt | age | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Pricing model | Free | Free | Freemium | Subscription | One-time | Free | | Starts at | Free | Free | ? | ? | $39.99 | Free | | License | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 | ? | Proprietary | Proprietary | BSD-3-Clause | | Platforms | Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android | Windows, macOS, Linux | | Container / volume encryption | Partial | Yes | Partial | Yes | No | No | | Per-file encryption | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | | Cloud-friendly (per-file sync) | No | No | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | | Cross-platform | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Open source & audited | Partial | Yes | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial | | Hidden volumes | No | Yes | No | Yes | ? | No | | Key files support | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Password strength enforcement | ? | Partial | Partial | No | ? | No | | CLI | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ## Sources Sources for DiskCryptor. Each alternative is sourced on its own page. - **License**: GPL-3.0 — (verified 2026-07-30) - Note: No separate LICENSE file exists in the repo root; the README explicitly states the license with a link to GNU GPLv3. - Quote: “Open license GNU GPLv3.” - **Pricing model**: Free — (verified 2026-07-30) - Quote: “DiskCryptor is a free, low-level disk encryption tool” - **Starts at**: Free — (verified 2026-07-30) - Note: No paid tier exists; the project accepts voluntary Patreon donations off-domain, which is not a paid product tier. - Quote: “DiskCryptor is a free, low-level disk encryption tool” - **Platforms**: Windows — (verified 2026-07-30) - Note: Installer is a Windows kernel-mode driver plus UEFI/MBR bootloader; no Linux/macOS builds are offered on the downloads page or GitHub releases. - Quote: “DiskCryptor supports any Microsoft operation system since Windows 2000.” - **Status**: active — (verified 2026-07-30) - Note: Confirmed by GitHub evidence: releases v2.0.0 and v2.0.1 published 2026-07-04/05, and commits as recent as 2026-07-18 in github.com/DavidXanatos/DiskCryptor. The original ntldr project at diskcryptor. - Quote: “Yes. DiskCryptor is still actively maintained.” - **Container / volume encryption**: Partial — (verified 2026-07-30) - Note: Full partition/volume/disk encryption is the core supported feature. File-based encrypted containers are not yet implemented; the FAQ says portable/container support is planned together ('Portable mod - Quote: “Currently DiskCryptor supports volumes and driver installation is obligatory” - **Per-file encryption**: No — (verified 2026-07-30) - Note: The full feature list in the README only describes partition/volume/external-device encryption; no per-file mode is listed. - Quote: “Transparent encryption of disk partitions.” - **Cloud-friendly (per-file sync)**: No — (verified 2026-07-30) - Note: Encryption operates at the whole-partition/volume level via a kernel driver, not per file, so it is not designed for per-file cloud-sync workflows; no such mode appears in the feature list. - Quote: “Transparent encryption of disk partitions.” - **Cross-platform**: No — (verified 2026-07-30) - Note: Windows-only kernel driver and EFI/MBR bootloader; no Linux/macOS/other-OS builds found on the downloads page or GitHub releases. - Quote: “DiskCryptor supports any Microsoft operation system since Windows 2000.” - **Open source & audited**: Partial — (verified 2026-07-30) - Note: Source is public on GitHub under GPLv3 (open source: yes), but no evidence of a formal third-party security audit was found on the official site, GitHub repo, or docs pages checked. - Quote: “Open license GNU GPLv3.” - **Hidden volumes**: No — (verified 2026-07-30) - Note: FAQ answer to whether a duress/hidden-volume second-password feature will be added. - Quote: “No, that would not be implemented, because of the security concerns.” - **Key files support**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-30) - Quote: “Support for key files.” - **CLI**: Yes — (verified 2026-07-30) - Quote: “Support for hot keys and optional command-line interface (CLI).” --- Ranked by verified data, never by who paid. https://altcatalog.com/trust/